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Welcome to Close Call Sports. CCS objectively tracks and analyzes close and controversial calls in sport, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game. Developed from The Left Field Corner: MLB Umpire Ejection Fantasy League (UEFL), whose purpose is to objectively track and analyze umpire ejections, video instant replay reviews and their corresponding calls, with great regard for the rules and spirit of the game.

Friday, May 9, 2014

MLB Ejection, Case Play & Replay Review: Foster, Porter

HP Umpire Marty Foster ejected Rays Pitching Coach Jim Hickey for arguing a check swing (ball) call in the top of the 1st and Instant Replay Review confirmed 1B Umpire Alan Porter's out call in the bottom of the 5th inning of the Orioles-Rays game. In the 1st, with two out and one on, Orioles batter Adam Jones attempted to check his swing on a 0-2 changeup from Rays pitcher David Price as catcher Jose Molina threw to second baseman Ben Zobrist to catch Orioles baserunner R1 Nelson Cruz stealing to end the frame, the call was correct.* At the time of the ejection, the contest was tied, 0-0.

In the 5th, with one out and three on, Rays batter Evan Longoria hit a 0-2 slider from Orioles pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez on the ground to shortstop J.J. Hardy, who threw to second baseman Jonathan Schoop, who thew to first baseman Steve Pearce as Longoria arrived at first base, Rays baserunner R1 Matt Joyce out at second. Upon Replay Review as the result of a challenge by Rays Manager Joe Maddon, Porter's ruling was affirmed, the call was correct. At the time of the review, the Orioles were leading, 3-1. The Orioles ultimately won the contest, 3-1.

*CASE PLAY: The 0-2 changeup check swing pitch resulted in an inning-ending out at second base, meaning that the defensive team was not put at a disadvantage by a call (or no-call) at the plate: 1B Umpire Alan Porter did not receive a check swing appeal as the third out was made before Foster appealed. Pursuant to UEFL Rule 6-2-b-6-a, "Quality of Correctness is governed by the (in)correctness of the call made, not by the quality of reasoning given for such a call." Because an out was recorded on this pitch, the call must be correct. The Case Play is as follows: (a) Assume that there was just one out in the inning and the same sequence occurred. Contact was made between F2 Molina and B1 Jones' bat. (b) Assume the same scenario as in part [a], but in [b], R1 slides into second base ahead of the throw/tag. What's the call? Pursuant to UEFL Rule, this Case Play shall remain open until no earlier than Sunday, 5/11 at 2:00 AM PT.

This is the 36th ejection of the 2014 MLB Regular Season.
This is the 247th Instant Replay Review of the 2014 MLB Regular Season.
This is the Rays' 3rd ejection of 2014, 2nd in the AL East (NYY 4; TB 3; BOS 2; TOR 1; BAL 0).
This is Rays Manager Joe Maddon's 13th Replay Review of 2014.
This is Jim Hickey's first ejection since May 2, 2009 (John Hirschbeck; QOC = [Balls/Strikes]).
This is Marty Foster's first ejection since May 26, 2013 (Mike Scioscia; QOC = Y [Reversed K]).
Umpires are now 130/247 (.526 Affirmation Rate) in Replay Reviews during the 2014 MLB season.